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For 1st Time, Most Americans Back Gay Marriage

ABC/Post survey finds 53% in favor

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 18, 2011 1:14 PM CDT

(Newser) – A new survey from ABC and the Washington Post suggests a milestone for gay rights: More than half of Americans—53% to be exact—say gay men and women should be able to legally marry. It's the first time the percentage has cracked the 50% mark in almost 10 years of surveys, and caps a steady rise in polls from a low of 32% in 2004.

What's more, majority support for same-sex marriage is no longer confined to people in their 20s: 65% of people in their 30s like the idea, up 23 percentage points since 2005, along with 52% of people in their 40s, a 17-point increase. It's good news, says liberal blogger Alex Pareene at Salon, but it probably won't make much difference to Republicans. "Because the people who don't support it really don't support it, and people who really care about opposing things make a pretty good base of political support." Click for his full column.

In this file photo taken June 17, 2008, a same-sex couple hold hands during their wedding ceremony at City Hall in San Francisco.
In this file photo taken June 17, 2008, a same-sex couple hold hands during their wedding ceremony at City Hall in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Darryl Bush, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 107 comments
realtruth
Mar 21, 2011 9:05 AM CDT
It is funny.. How the things you hope and pray for are so often the things you work against. If I truly hated Gay and homosexuals… Then I would encourage stronger bonds between them such as marriage. The Result will be the Lessening of their offspring. And their eventual self chosen natural selection genocide.
Ucantusethatname
Mar 19, 2011 8:49 PM CDT
Next time poll outside the city limits of San Francisco.
Nixon
Mar 19, 2011 12:50 PM CDT
Society has a right to define an institution such as marriage in a matter of it's choosing. If a clear majority wants to have same-sex marriage then so be it. Also cut the abuse, the cries of bigotry and stop comparing "gay rights" to the suffering of black Americans.
US

 
gay rights • gay marriage • Civil unions • Washington Post ABC poll

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